The EU should channel its funds towards more productive ends

Merkel and Prime Minister Samaras of Greece held a joint press conference in Berlin today after convening to discuss Greece's next loan instalments. As reported by the Guardian, the press conference confirmed that the Merkel-Samaras meeting was, in true Eurocrisis fashion, fruitless.

On one hand, Samaras cemented his reluctant devotion to cutting €15bn in Greek expenditures within the next two years. He once again cited the need to promote growth alongside austerity. Addressing the "deficit in confidence" that plagues Greece, the prime minister criticised European leaders such as Volker Kauder (who said the grexit "would be no problem for the euro") for further destabilising the country.

Merkel, on the other hand, renewed her wish to keep Greece in the Eurozone, stating her confidence in Samaras' abilities to make the necessary adjustments. Regarding an extension of the deadline, however, the German Prime Minister announced that Germany would not "make premature judgements but will await the troika report" that is due mid-September.